All,
My oldest son playing college ball will need an outfield's glove. Any suggestions for the best glove?
TIA
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My son has a Wilson A2000 KP92-BL 12.5inches. $220
He loves it.
He loves it.
My son uses a Rawlings Pro Preferrd, really likes it, can get it far around $220, maybe a little cheaper on ebay
This is an interesting question because it is for a college player and they usually know exactly what they want and are well aware of the options. So, I'm guessing you or he will already know most of what I can throw out here...
Of course, to withstand the heavy use of college ball, he will need a top grade thick cut of leather which means he needs to choose one of the top-of-the-line options from any number of brands (generally anything over $125 or so).
The old stand-by's are Wilson A2000 series and Rawlings Primo, Pro Preferred or Heart of the Hide. Easton and Mizuno make some very good alterernatives also. There are other good brands as well. IMO, most Nokona's are a bit heavy when you get up into the OF sizes and Louisville Slugger has become more of an IF niche glove with the flared tips.
These better gloves are stiffer off the shelf and will need sufficient break-in time, so if he is being thrust into a new spot, he will also need to either borrow someone's second glove or buy a mid-line softer glove for immediate use during the transition.
An OF glove should be at least 12.5" and of course this is a very personal item that must be tried on - very tough to buy a glove via catalog or internet. Is he trying on his OF teammates' gloves?
I do second the Rawlings Pro Preffered and the Wilson A2000... great pieces of leather that aren't outrageously heavy.
Of course, to withstand the heavy use of college ball, he will need a top grade thick cut of leather which means he needs to choose one of the top-of-the-line options from any number of brands (generally anything over $125 or so).
The old stand-by's are Wilson A2000 series and Rawlings Primo, Pro Preferred or Heart of the Hide. Easton and Mizuno make some very good alterernatives also. There are other good brands as well. IMO, most Nokona's are a bit heavy when you get up into the OF sizes and Louisville Slugger has become more of an IF niche glove with the flared tips.
These better gloves are stiffer off the shelf and will need sufficient break-in time, so if he is being thrust into a new spot, he will also need to either borrow someone's second glove or buy a mid-line softer glove for immediate use during the transition.
An OF glove should be at least 12.5" and of course this is a very personal item that must be tried on - very tough to buy a glove via catalog or internet. Is he trying on his OF teammates' gloves?
I do second the Rawlings Pro Preffered and the Wilson A2000... great pieces of leather that aren't outrageously heavy.
quote:Originally posted by cabbagedad:
An OF glove should be at least 12.5" and of course this is a very personal item that must be tried on - very tough to buy a glove via catalog or internet. Is he trying on his OF teammates' gloves?
Maybe, you can help me.
I've asked before. What's with all these outfielders' hands sticking halfway out of their gloves. The pros started it. Then, it filtered down to college. Now high school players are doing it. You're a coach. You must see it, too. What do you tell your guys? I don't like it. I think it causes unnecessary errors.
Hey AntsDad,
I’m afraid you won’t like my position on this. I was VERY guilty as an OF player. So is Cabbage. As you said, so are most OF’s.
Of course we teach our IF’s to field the ball with their hands. So their gloves have to be “part of” their hands. For an OF, the glove is more of an extension of the hand. An IF typically catches the ball near where the palm meets the fingers with the thought of using their hands. An OF typically catches the ball at or near the fingertips either in the web or at the junction of the web and pocket. Their thought is to clamp or pinch the glove with their thumb and pinky/ring finger as the levers. So, an IF may feel more comfortable using more of the pocket and, thus, more hand in the glove. Most OF’s are able to work their glove easier with the base of the palm partially out of the glove. Searching for the right terminology, I consulted with Cabbage – “It’s easier to squeeze”. Brilliant.
My terminology – I can pinch the glove more effectively with the base of my palm well out of the glove so that I get less interference from the heel of the glove.
This also gives the OF the feeling of maximum reach when tracking down fly balls and line drives at full speed as well as more reach when running through a roller on a do-or-die. No time to break down and field it like an IF.
More E's? Yeah, possibly if the OF allows laziness and lack of focus due to the extra length. I think it is just like an NHL defenseman with a longer stick though. They can be amazingly precise when they are in tune with their longer stick.
My test for my players...
..slow rollers in deep grass – the OF must be able to run through those and pick the ball with their glove. If they can’t, they need more control of the glove, whether it be getting more hand in the glove or a glove that is tighter and/or more cupped at the end. That’s also why I don’t like flared-tip gloves for OF. It may be OK on a perfectly groomed MLB turf but not for the typical HS grass.
OP, sorry for the slight diversion. It is another interesting topic, though.
I’m afraid you won’t like my position on this. I was VERY guilty as an OF player. So is Cabbage. As you said, so are most OF’s.
Of course we teach our IF’s to field the ball with their hands. So their gloves have to be “part of” their hands. For an OF, the glove is more of an extension of the hand. An IF typically catches the ball near where the palm meets the fingers with the thought of using their hands. An OF typically catches the ball at or near the fingertips either in the web or at the junction of the web and pocket. Their thought is to clamp or pinch the glove with their thumb and pinky/ring finger as the levers. So, an IF may feel more comfortable using more of the pocket and, thus, more hand in the glove. Most OF’s are able to work their glove easier with the base of the palm partially out of the glove. Searching for the right terminology, I consulted with Cabbage – “It’s easier to squeeze”. Brilliant.
My terminology – I can pinch the glove more effectively with the base of my palm well out of the glove so that I get less interference from the heel of the glove.
This also gives the OF the feeling of maximum reach when tracking down fly balls and line drives at full speed as well as more reach when running through a roller on a do-or-die. No time to break down and field it like an IF.
More E's? Yeah, possibly if the OF allows laziness and lack of focus due to the extra length. I think it is just like an NHL defenseman with a longer stick though. They can be amazingly precise when they are in tune with their longer stick.
My test for my players...
..slow rollers in deep grass – the OF must be able to run through those and pick the ball with their glove. If they can’t, they need more control of the glove, whether it be getting more hand in the glove or a glove that is tighter and/or more cupped at the end. That’s also why I don’t like flared-tip gloves for OF. It may be OK on a perfectly groomed MLB turf but not for the typical HS grass.
OP, sorry for the slight diversion. It is another interesting topic, though.
My son has 2 - a lightweight buffalo hide Nokona and a heavier (by comparison, not "heavy") Kelley Elevation series. My old favorite was a Rawlings HOH fastback with the checkerboard web.
The glove needs to do 3 things well: catch a ball that hits the glove, hold onto it as you crash into the wall/ground/teammate, and transfer that ball to the throwing hand quickly.
I never did like the 6-finger gloves like Ichiro uses. The web is floppier and doesn't hold onto the snowcone catches as well. The fingers on the Nokona buffalo are kind of floppy as well. I (and my son) prefer a web with a solid piece of leather between the index finger and the thumb, like H-webs or T-webs. I also never liked the 13" gloves because of the times I would have to fish around in the glove trying to find the ball.
As for the hand sticking out, I recently bought a Wilson A2000 where the heel of my hand is totally exposed. It has more to do with the cut of the glove.
The glove needs to do 3 things well: catch a ball that hits the glove, hold onto it as you crash into the wall/ground/teammate, and transfer that ball to the throwing hand quickly.
I never did like the 6-finger gloves like Ichiro uses. The web is floppier and doesn't hold onto the snowcone catches as well. The fingers on the Nokona buffalo are kind of floppy as well. I (and my son) prefer a web with a solid piece of leather between the index finger and the thumb, like H-webs or T-webs. I also never liked the 13" gloves because of the times I would have to fish around in the glove trying to find the ball.
As for the hand sticking out, I recently bought a Wilson A2000 where the heel of my hand is totally exposed. It has more to do with the cut of the glove.
Cabbagedad and Primary
Did you know that when Ichiro played RF in
Seattle he requested that the groundskeeper cut the grass in
RF very short so that the ball would arrive quicker and he could throw out the runner.
We have several beautiful SSK "custom made" OF gloves in our inventory.
Bob
Did you know that when Ichiro played RF in
Seattle he requested that the groundskeeper cut the grass in
RF very short so that the ball would arrive quicker and he could throw out the runner.
We have several beautiful SSK "custom made" OF gloves in our inventory.
Bob
Always interesting stories, Bob, thanks. I didn't mention SSK because their good stuff is so darned hard to find in stores here in the states. I know they dominate in the Asian countries.
My son played for your son's Team SSK last year in your Summit Bank tourney. He has other commitments this year at that time but would love to buy a few more SSK bats from you if he could like he did then.
PS - I'm guessing Ichiro wouldn't mind the surface at SRJC! Cabbage loved that.
My son played for your son's Team SSK last year in your Summit Bank tourney. He has other commitments this year at that time but would love to buy a few more SSK bats from you if he could like he did then.
PS - I'm guessing Ichiro wouldn't mind the surface at SRJC! Cabbage loved that.
My 2013 swears by the Mizuno Pro. They are at least $350 unless you can find a last years model. Just my 2 cents.
quote:college player and they usually know exactly what they want and are well aware of the options. So, I'm guessing you or he will already know most of what I can throw out here...
He is being switched to OF. He does not know what brand he wants, but he too is asking OF friends from other schools their opinions.
Just asking here because I usually get great advice.
I do expect to pay quite a bit for the glove and he will know what size for his hand. His last glove was IF and a pro model.
My son really likes his Akadema gloves.He has an infielder,Outfielder,and 1st baseman's glove.When he was a pitcher he had an Akadema pitcher's glove.He no longer pitches so I inherited the glove I like it. Akadema makes good quality gloves and their prices are a less painful on my wallet.
I like it. Akadema makes good quality gloves and their prices are a less painful on my wallet.